Brief case and the like



May 11, 1943.

- H.J. GUENTHER ETAL BRIEF CASE AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 22, 1941. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Z Y wwwm fie .m JG n y? A r r mm. Ha v May 11, 1943. H. J. GUENTHER ETAL BRIEF CASE-AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 6 Wh INVENTORS y .1 Guen filter rye GT $tlrlt'k Hem Geo Patented May 11, 1943 BRIEF CASE AND THE LIKE Henry J. Guenther and George G. Guenther, New York, N. Y.

Application October 22, 1941, Serial No. 415,994

(!. ISO-1.6)

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in brief cases and the like.

The invention has particular reference to a novel construction in a brief case which has a front wall and a rear wall with the usual pockets which are open at the top and located between the Walls. Essentially, the improvements include a novel construction for closing the open top of the brief case. Specifically, it is proposed to provide flaps which continue from the top edges of the front and rear walls and extend the length of the brief case. It is proposed to mount flexible sheet material members on the inner faces of these flaps and to arrange these members to have their bottom edges free and extending towards each other. It is contemplated to provide slide fasteners for releasibly securing the bottom edges of said members together for closing the brief case.

Still further the invention contemplates an arrangement for releasibly securing the flaps together. It is also proposed to so arrange the flaps and the securing means that the flaps may be used as a handle for carrying the brief case.

Further improvements will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the ap pended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a brief case constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. l but illustrated with certain of the parts open.

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of the article as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view looking from the left hand end of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 6 but illustrated with the brief case closed.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another brief case constructed in accordance with another form of this invention.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the brief case shown in Fig. 10 with a certain side pocket open.

The brief case, to which the invention is applied, includes a front wall I2, a rear wall I3, the usual partitions I4, producing the usual pockets I 5 which are open at the top and located between the said walls I2 and I3. Flaps I2 and I3, respectively, continue from the top edges of the front and rear walls I2 and I3 and extend the full length of the brief case.- Flexible sheet material members I1 and I8 are mounted on the inner faces of the flaps ll and I3 and have their bottom edges fre and extending towards each other. A slide fastener I9 releasibly secures together the bottom edges of the said members I! and I8 for closing the open top of the brief case.

The flexible sheet material members I! and I8 extend a small distance down one of the ends of the brief case, these end portions being indicated by reference numerals I! and I8, respectively. The slide fastener I9 extends along these end positions Il and I8 for closing this top cornerof the brief case. However, at the other end of the brief case the flexibl sheet material members I! and I8 terminate at the end of the brief case so that there is a small open space 20 which allows a slight inspection of the interior of the case and also permits the ready passage of air to keep the interior of the case ventilated and wholesome.

The flexible sheet material members I! and I8 are mounted upon the flaps I2 and I3 respectively, by lines of stitches 2| which extend along the edges of these parts, connecting them together. A line of stitches 2| connects these parts together slightly inwards of the bottom edges of the flexible sheet material members I! and I8 so that these bottom edges are free, as already mentioned.

An elongated opening 22 is formed through each of the flaps I 2 and I3 and the adjacent flexible sheet material members I1 and [8. A fastener device is provided for holding the flaps and flexible sheet material members close together when desired. This fastener device comprises a small strip of material 23 mounted at one end on one of the flaps and engageable through the openings 22 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7. A snap fastener 24 is mounted on the strip 23 and other flap to releasably hold them together. When the brief case is fully closed it is in the condition illustrated in Fig. 1. In this condition ones fingers may be engaged through the openings 22 by which the brief case may then be carried. Thus the openings 22 in conjunction with the adjacent material of the flaps and flexible sheet material members form a handle.

The front wall l2 of the brief case is formed with an opening having a horizontal portion 25 and a vertical portion 25 This vertical portion is closed with. an. expandable gusset 26. A slide fastener 21 is mounted upon the edges of the opening 25 by which this opening may be closed. A partition 28 is located directly behind the front wall I2 forming a pocket 29 which is accessible through the opening 25 when the slide fastener 21 is in its open position.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the fact that the flexible sheet material members 11 and I8 have a much larger part of their bottom portions free. The; lines of stitches 2| are located much higher up. Several snap fasteners 30 are mounted along, the free'bottom edge portions. of the flexible sheet material members I1 and ill for normally holding these partsfixedly. In other respects. this form of the invention is identical to the previous form and like parts are identified by like reference numerals.

The carrying capacity of the brief case may be increased by opening the fasteners 30. Then the front and rear walls l2 and I3 respectively may be separated to a greater distance. When, it is again desired to decrease the carrying capacity of the brief case the fasteners 30 are re-engaged.

In Figs. and 11 another form of. the, invention is disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the details of the brief casev itself. In accordance with this form of the invention there is a brief case 35 which has a pair of walls 36 and. 31 forming, a pocket 38 which is open at the top and one side. A gusset 39 is mounted betweenportions of the walls 36 and 31, closing said open side of the pocket. Slide fastener stringers 40 are mounted along the opposite top sidesv of the opening 38. A control slide 4|, by which the stringers 40 maybe connected together is provided. Fig. 10 illustrates the brief case closed. Fig. 11 shows the pocket 38 in its open condition.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a brief case having a front wall and a rear wall with the usual pockets which are open at the top located between said walls, flaps continuing from the top edges of said front and rear walls andextending the length of the brief case, flexible sheet material members mounted on the inner faces of said flaps and hawng their middle portions and, bottom edges free and extending towards. each other, a slide fastener releasably securing said bottom edges of said members together for closing said brief case, and means for releasably connecting the middle portions of said flexible sheet material members to the adjacent faces of said flaps whereby when said middle portions are released the said front and rear walls may be separated a greater distance.

2. In a brief case having a front wall and a rear wall with the usual pockets which are open at the top located between said walls, flaps continuing from the top edges of said front and rear walls and extending the length of the brief case, flexible sheet material members mounted on the inner faces of said flaps and having their middle portions and bottom edges free and extending towards each other, a slide fastener releasably securing said bottom edges of said members together for closing said brief case, and means. for releasably connecting the middle portions of said flexible sheet material members to the adjacent faces of said flaps whereby'when. said middle portions are released the said front and. rear walls may be separated a greater distance, said releasable connecting means comprising cooperative snap fasteners mounted on the adjacent faces of said flaps and sheet material members.

. HENRY J. GUENTHER.

GEORGE G. GUENTHER. 

